Download 44KB - NZQA

16674 version 3
Page 1 of 5
Describe the principles of aquatic ecology and relate to aquaculture
Level
3
Credits
10
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: energy and nutrient
flows in the aquatic ecosystem; patterns in phytoplankton abundance and how
they relate to aquaculture; interactions between organisms and how they relate
to aquaculture; tides and tidal patterns and how they relate to aquaculture;
zonation in the aquatic environment and how it relates to aquaculture; the
potential ecological impacts of aquaculture and the farming techniques used to
minimise these impacts; and how the ecological impacts of human activities
on land and in the aquatic environment can impact on aquaculture.
Subfield
Seafood
Domain
Aquaculture
Status
Registered
Status date
12 December 2008
Date version published
12 December 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0123
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
For the purpose of this unit standard the candidate must choose one aquatic species
from any of the following categories: molluscs, fin fish, crustaceans, and
echinoderms. The same species must be described for each element.
2
Aquaculture can include marine or freshwater farming at any stage of the lifecycle.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
16674 version 3
Page 2 of 5
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe energy and nutrient flows in the aquatic ecosystem.
Performance criteria
1.1
The description includes three main chemical elements required by most living
organisms.
1.2
The description outlines energy flows through an ecosystem and their implications
on the structure of ecosystems.
Range
1.3
food chains, food webs, pyramids of biomass.
The description outlines how organisms obtain nutrients.
Range
producers and consumers.
1.4
The description outlines the role of decomposers in the cycling of nutrients in the
aquatic environment.
1.5
The description outlines a nutrient cycle for one of the chemical elements in the
aquatic environment.
Element 2
Describe patterns in phytoplankton abundance and how they relate to aquaculture.
Performance criteria
2.1
The description includes the spatial patterns in phytoplankton abundance and
what causes them.
Range
2.2
The description includes the temporal patterns in phytoplankton abundance and
what causes them.
Range
2.3
depth, small scale patchiness and large scale variation.
seasonal patterns, species succession.
The description includes the impacts of phytoplankton patterns on aquaculture.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
16674 version 3
Page 3 of 5
Element 3
Describe interactions between organisms and how they relate to aquaculture.
Performance criteria
3.1
The description includes a definition for each type of interaction.
Range
predation, commensalism, parasitism, interspecific competition,
intraspecific competition.
3.2
The description includes four interactions of potential economic significance
between the aquaculture species and other species.
3.3
The description includes two ways in which the impacts of undesirable interactions
are minimised.
3.4
The description includes the effects of competition within the aquaculture species.
Range
may include but is not limited to – growth rate, condition, mortality,
shell shape, stock loss and food conversion rate;
evidence is required for three.
Element 4
Describe tides and tidal patterns and how they relate to aquaculture.
Performance criteria
4.1
The description includes tides and tidal patterns in terms of high, low, spring and
neap tides.
4.2
The description includes the effects of tides and tidal patterns on the aquaculture
species.
Element 5
Describe zonation in the aquatic environment, and how it relates to aquaculture.
Performance criteria
5.1
The description includes a definition of zonation and includes one example.
5.2
The description includes three key factors determining zonation patterns.
5.3
The description includes the relationship between zonation and the techniques of
aquaculture.
Range
may include but is not limited to – catching depth, over settlement,
control of catching densities, control of fouling, tank design;
evidence is required for one.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
16674 version 3
Page 4 of 5
Element 6
Describe the potential ecological impacts of aquaculture, and the farming techniques used to
minimise these impacts.
Performance criteria
6.1
The description includes the impacts on the physical environment.
Range
6.2
The description includes the impacts on the biological environment.
Range
6.3
may include but is not limited to – sedimentation, organic
enrichment, anaerobic sediments;
evidence is required for two.
may include but not limited to – species diversity and abundance,
fouling organisms, phytoplankton abundance;
evidence is required for two.
The description includes farming techniques used in aquaculture to minimise
ecological impacts.
Range
evidence is required for two techniques.
Element 7
Describe how the ecological impacts of human activities on land and in the aquatic
environment can impact on aquaculture.
Performance criteria
7.1
The description includes an example of one impact on the physical environment.
7.2
The description includes an example of one impact on the biological environment.
7.3
The description includes how human activities on land and in the aquatic
environment can be managed to minimise the impact on aquaculture.
Range
evidence is required for two impacts.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
16674 version 3
Page 5 of 5
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation [email protected] if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017